Hiroshima Day events in Abingdon & Oxford next Thursday 6th August

Dear Peace Group and friends,

Thursday 6th August is the 81st anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, and August 9th of Nagasaki. All over the world, vigils are held and lanterns floated. In Hiroshima itself the ceremony takes place at 8.15am, the time the bomb was dropped.

To mark the anniversary, as usual we will meet at 8.15am at the War Memorial in Abingdon for a half-hour vigil followed by the Community Affirmation attached.

Then at 7pm we meet again in St Ethelwold’s garden, 30 East St Helen Street, for cool drinks while we look at a small exhibition given to us by peace activists from Hiroshima. At 7.30pm we will have a ceremony round the peace pole with the mayor of Abingdon and a special visitor from Hiroshima itself.

 Then it’s time to light our lanterns and tea-lights and process to the river by St Helen’s Church where Oxford Sea Green Singers and Didcot Red Kites will sing some songs about Hiroshima while we float the lanterns painted for us by schoolchildren in Hiroshima.

Please come amd bring your family, friends & neighbours!

At 1pm in Oxford on the same day, they will also remember Hiroshima : Gather for HIROSHIMA DAY -

Please find attached the flier for our evening event, and the affirmation which will be used in the morning and also in the evening.

With our new PM seeming to think it is a good idea to manufacture more of these terrible weapons, [ https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/29/trident-renewal-central-defence-reindustrialised-britain-andy-burnham ] it is more important than ever to remind the next generation of why that is not a good idea!

In peace, Sally on behalf of the Peace Group team.